| Home | ||
|
More about Music from our Archives..
Mitchell's Quick-fix Fake Peace Palestine Chronicle: 1 Sep 2010 - By Stuart Littlewood –London On the eve of the silliest peace talks in history, the big question is this. What makes Obama's envoy George Mitchell, a negotiator of high repute, say there is 'no role' for Hamas? The talks are silly because they seek to overturn what the United Nations has already decided for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict and drive a bulldozer through the building blocks of justice. It might be music to Zionist ears, but to people of good will it’s a cruel, futile and immensely damaging ploy. The talks are also silly because they bring together two people who by no stretch of the imagination could qualify as partners for peace. And they sit down under the auspices of a third party with an appalling track record in the Middle East and whom no-one trusts to act fairly. So Mitchell has been dealt a terrible hand. The former...more Catalonian Youth Advocate Palestine Via Music PNN - Nablus – PNN exclusive – a group of Catalonian youth currently visiting the Palestinian territory have taken the responsibility to advocate the Palestinian cause using a number of methods among them music.... Middle East Sound of Music Palestine Chronicle: 25 Aug 2010 - By Sherri Muzher I don't know where I'm going But, I sure know where I've been Hanging on the promises In songs of yesterday An' I've made up my mind I ain't wasting no more time But, here I go again Those lyrics belong to Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again On My Own," and might as well be the theme song for the Palestinian Authority ahead of Mideast peace talks While direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis are welcome, actions speak louder than words. The continuation of Israeli settlements speaks volumes. Physical separation and lack of contiguity has nullified the hopes of two states living side by side. One can only conclude that the talks merely present photo-op for another U.S president and more time to plant more facts on the ground for the Israeli government. Professor Stephen Walt of Harvard University and co-author of “The Israeli Lobby and U.S....more Children Coping with Trauma through Music Therapy in Nablus WAFA - NABLUS, August 21, 2010 (WAFA- While living under occupation in the West Bank, young children are often exposed to violence that can have severe adverse affects on their psychological well-being. OPT: Children Coping with Trauma through Music Therapy in Nablus Relief Web 20 Aug 2010 - Source: US Agency for International Development Muslim American rapper growing up in post-9/11 America Palestine Note 17 Aug 2010 - New York, New York - When Cyrus McGoldrick takes the stage, he's not himself. McGoldrick raps as The Raskol Khan, often with the Freddy Fuego Sextet, an evolving group of musicians based in Harlem. The name... Letter to Dave Douglas on his upcoming concert in Israel Mondoweiss - Dear Mr. Douglas, I am an Israeli citizen living in West Jerusalem. I am writing to you two weeks ahead of your scheduled concerts in the Israeli city of Eilat. I am fan of Jazz music and a fan of your work . I believe you should... Music: Arabian Night: Distant Heat Music Show in Jordan New York Times 7 Aug 2010 - The Distant Heat show, an overnight rave by the Red Sea in Jordan, plays the dance music while playing down cultural differences. The weekend in protests 8/2/2010 - International Solidarity Movement - Reports of all the weekend demonstrations in the West Bank attended by ISM activists. - Bil’in: tributes paid to Olympia and music from rappers in solidarity with Palestine (July 30th) Dozens suffered from tear gas inhalation and stun grenades in Bil'in’s weekly demonstration, and two people were injured. On Friday 30 July.... ‘Boycott Israel’ protest held Friday in Bil’in village; two injured IMEMC - 1 Aug 2010 - Sunday August 01, 2010 - 12:46, Around 200 Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals – including a group of hip-hop musicians from the US and Britain – joined a protest on Friday afternoon in the Palestinian village of Bil’in calling on the international community to boycott Israel in order to end Israeli apartheid practices. Jewish musicians unite for Palestine Sahar Habib Ghazi, Dawn 7/12/2010 HOUSTON: Deep in downtown, the teasing strum of a guitar, hypnotic beat of percussions, and the wooing echo of horns bounce off lime-green soundproof walls in a dimly-lit rented studio. It is close to midnight on a weekday, and the Free Radicals are rehearsing a song inspired by a centuries-old Jewish music genre called Klezmer. In its historic form, the purely instrumental compositions were structured to facilitate expressive celebrations and dancing at traditional Jewish weddings in Eastern Europe. But the Free Radicals are anything but traditional. By day, the band members are activists, volunteers and teachers and by night, they gather in a rented studio to practice. They often play pro bono at protests and peace benefits. “Outside the political sphere, we take radicalism in our approach to music,” says percussionist Chris Howard. The Free Radicals have taken the high energy and exotic scale of Klezmer and turned it into something verging on punk rock. Since they formed in 1996, the band has experimented with diverse international instrumental styles and have collaborated with over 50 other musicians. But in Klezmer, folk music inherited from some of their Jewish ancestors, the Free Radicals saw potential beyond bar mitzvahs and weddings. The drummer and founder of the band, Nick Cooper thought it could be a powerful voice to gather support to “boycott Israel.” Cooper’s own band, the Free Radicals abides by the call from Palestinian academics.... more.. e-mail Disco group Boney M asked to cut song at WB festival Palestine Note 22 Jul 2010 - Washington – The iconic 1970s disco group Boney M performed this week at an international music festival in Ramallah, but were asked to refrain from singing their hit “Rivers of Babylon,” the Associated Press reported Thursday.... Israel releases British rapper detained at airport 7/21/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - Israeli airport authorities have released a British-Iraqi rapper who was held for half a day at Ben Gurion International Airport, the musician's fan page reported Wednesday. Lowkey was detained Tuesday upon arrival in Tel Aviv en route to play a number of concerts and hold a series of musical workshops in refugee camps.... PA police host summer camp in Qalqiliya 7/21/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - EU police instructors participated in the closing ceremony of the first police summer camp in the northern West Bank district of Qalqiliya on Wednesday. Sixty-seven children participated in the camp, which included 10 days of theater, music, sports and painting, the EU's EUPOL COPPS program announced in a statement Wednesday. The summer camp.... Johnny Rotten: "Rise" against racism, boycott Israel Electronic Intifada: 20 Jul 2010 - The following letter to British musician John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, who is scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv next month, was issued on 18 July 2010 by the Palestinian Students' Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI) and the University Teachers' Association in Palestine (UTAP).more Gilad Atzmon Interviewed: Each Village is a Reminder Palestine Chronicle: 13 Jul 2010 - By Brian Lenzo Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and has become known around the world as a masterful jazz musician. As a multi-instrumentalist, he plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, clarinet and flute. His album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. He has been described by the London Sunday Times' John Bungey as the "hardest-gigging man in British jazz." His nine albums often explore political themes and the music of the Middle East. He has recorded and performed with Shane McGowan, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor, Robert Wyatt and Paul McCartney, and was a member of the punk band The Blockheads. In 1982, Atzmon completed obligatory military service during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and his experiences then brought about a major change in his thinking. He currently lives in exile in Great Britain and regards himself as a Hebrew-speaking Palestinian. In...more New Yorkers Celebrate 5 Successful Years of Palestinian-Led Boycott Movement against Israel WAFA - NEW YORK July 12, 2010 (WAFA)- In a joyful celebration of the Palestinian peaceful and creative grassroots resistance, 40 New York human rights activists conducted a musical walking tour of U.S. gov’t record label offers IDF album and many other hymns to Zionism Mondoweiss - Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, which is a U.S. Gov't cocnern. My friend Bob Feldman writes: "If you do an advanced search on the Smithsonian music site by 'country,' you'll find that for 'Palestine Territory' there apparently are just 5... IDF soldiers face penalty after uploading Hebron dance video to YouTube Ha'aretz - WATCH: Video of soldiers, armed and wearing bulletproof vests, patrolling as a Muslim call to prayer is heard. Then the music changes and they break into a Macarena-like dance. The Hit List: Which musicians are boycotting Israel? Palestine Note 1 Jul 2010 - By Jared Malsin New York - Israel has faced a wave of cancellations by major musical acts in recent months, with several groups and musicians choosing to heed calls a boycott in the wake of Israel's... European music festival kicks off in Jerusalem 6/27/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - Aiming to break down social, religious, and cultural prejudice, 40 musicians from 10 countries will perform in a festival honoring Jerusalem on Sunday. The Sounding Jerusalem Festival 2010 is set to begin on Sunday, and last for two weeks with concerts across the West Bank and Jerusalem. The festival's artistic director, Erich Oskar.... Anti-Zionist show in Rochester is back on, though not in original church venue Mondoweiss - Yesterday we ran musician Rich Siegel's report that a gig he was doing at a church in Rochester, NY, with Gilad Atzmon, like Siegel an anti-Zionist, got cancelled because of political pressure, including from a local temple, B'rith Kodesh. Some folks who read the report queried... Palestinians launch first women's radio station 21 Jun 2010 - West Bank, June 21, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Entrepreneurs in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday launched the first-ever Palestinian radio station devoted to women. The new Arabic station, Nisaa (Women) 96 FM, will be run by men and women and aimed at a broad demographic, with programming focused on social issues as well as music and call-in shows with... A Widow Mourns, An Army Lies Palestine Monitor: 20 Jun 2010 - Last week Palestine Monitor reported that Israeli police shot and killed Shu'fat resident 39-year-old Ziad Jilani in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Wadi Joz. Now his widow, a U.S. citizen, reflects on her husband's life and death, and the journey he's taken her on. Reporting from Kara Newhouse. Moira Jilani, wife of slain East Jerusalem native, Ziad Jilani, with their daughters, Mirage (15), Hannah (17), and Yasmeen (7) Moira Jilani remembers her experience vividly, “I felt happy that day. We were going to go out and celebrate, because the children finished exams the day before,” she tells me from her brother-in-law's house, where she's spent her days since Ziad's death on June 11. “We were cleaning, getting rid of the winter clothes. We had the music loud, the girls were dancing. We were ready to leave.” “When Aya [her niece] came knocking at the door, she was crying, her whole... Elton John keeps Israel tour date Palestine Note 18 Jun 2010 - Washington - A number of musical acts - Elvis Costello, Gorillaz Sound System, Klaxons, the Pixies, Devendra Banhart - have canceled their Israeli tour dates this summer either as a personal statement against Israeli policies or... Gaza students call on Tiesto to cancel Israel concert Electronic Intifada: 18 Jun 2010 - Dear Tiesto, we write to you to appeal to you to be on the just side of history, to have your voice with the oppressed. Like many other internationally renowned musicians and singers who decided not to entertain apartheid Israel such as Elvis Costello, Gil Scott-Heron, the Klaxons and Gorillaz Sound System, the Pixies, Carlos Santana and David Banhart, we expect you to follow suit and refrain from doing so. Yet Another Artist Cancels a Show in Israel PNN - Bethlehem – PNN- Many musicians have been cancelling doing shows in Israel due to the Israeli policies that oppress the Palestinian people. Folk singer Devendra Banhart is the most recent musician to... Music Festival 22 June Bethlehem Alternative Information Center - L’Alliance Francaise de Bethleem & Alternative Information Center (AIC) Invite you to Music Festival Tuesday 22 June from 8pm At the AICafe in Beit Sahour Two... Music Festival 22 June Bethlehem Alternative Information Center 3 - L’Alliance Francaise de Bethleem & Alternative Information Center (AIC) Invite you to Music Festival Tuesday 22 June from 8pm At the AICafe in Beit Sahour Two... Musicians welcome here Jeruslalem Post 7 Jun 2010 - Israel was not and is not supposed to be a bunker. Flotilla backlash?: Musical acts cancel Israel shows Palestine Note 4 Jun 2010 - Washington - Hipster groups the Klaxons and Gorillaz Sound System have canceled their performances in Israel scheduled for this week in response to Israel's deadly raid on the "Freedom Flotilla," Haaretz reported Friday. Musical group Klaxons... Jerusalem’s Magnificat Institute raises voices and funds Saturday 5/27/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - Raising funds for the reconstruction of Jerusalem's Magnificat Institute, a chorus of Italian singers and musicians rallied together to put on the first of some 80 productions to be staged around the Mediterranean this summer. Proceeds from the Saturday night event will go to the repair of the institute, owned by the Holy.... When musicians boycott countries there are no clear winners The Guardian 26 May 2010 - Elvis Costello is the latest pop star to pull performances in Israel. But can a boycott do more harm than good? Last week, Elvis Costello became the latest, though probably not the last, musician to pull... In photos: American singers perform in Nablus 5/25/2010 - American singer Kareem Salama performs at an event organized by the US Consulate in Jerusalem. Salama and his band performed at An-Najah National University in Nablus on 22 May 2010. Salama singing American Heritage songs. In the past, the American representative to Palestine has hosted musical talent from swing to jazz to rap, and toured.... Music stars' boycott rocks Israel The National 21 May 2010 - British singer Elvis Costello says intimidation' and humiliation' of Palestinians spurred his decision as groups push for cultural boycott. Gaza youth learn music and challenge the occupation 5/21/2010 - International Solidarity Movement - Electronic Intifada, Eva Bartlett - GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IPS) – "Why are you rushing? Isn't it nicer like this? "Mohammed Omer, oud (an oud is similar to a lute) teacher at the Gaza Music School, asks his student. Omer takes the oud and demonstrates, playing the song slowly, gracefully, with the ornamentations that are.... Rock Icon Elvis Costello Joins Anti-Israel Boycott, Cancels Israeli Concerts The Media Line 19 May 2010 - After telling Israeli music journalists that dialogue and sharing culture were the best ways to overcome conflict, British rock star Elvis Costello announced he was backing out of two planned concerts in Israel because of the... Elvis Backs The Boycott Palestine Monitor - Veteran rock musician Elvis Costello has pulled out of two scheduled concerts inside Israel. The British five-time Grammy award winning singer and guitarist cited the "intimidation and humiliation of Palestinian civilians" in an open letter explaining his decision. Costello's public snub represents another major coup for... British musician Elvis Costello cancels Israel tour as ‘matter of conscience’ IMEMC - 18 May 2010 - After a campaign to boycott Israel targeted singer Elvis Costello with calls, letters and faxes, he decided that he could not, in good conscience, continue with a planned tour in Israel. He decided to join the boycott of Israel even though he acknowledged that this would cost him any future invitations to Israel. Elvis Costello cancels Israel concerts Palestine Note 17 May 2010 - New York - Following pressure from boycott campaigners, rock musician Elvis Costello announced on Saturday that he is canceling a pair of scheduled concerts in Israel. In a statement on his website, Costello said the decision... Elvis Backs The Boycott Palestine Monitor - Veteran rock musician Elvis Costello has pulled out of two scheduled concerts inside Israel. The British five-time Grammy award winning singer and guitarist cited the "intimidation and humiliation of Palestinian civilians" in an open letter explaining his decision. Costello's public snub represents another major coup for... Elvis Backs The Boycott Palestine Monitor: 18 May 2010 - Veteran rock musician Elvis Costello has pulled out of two scheduled concerts inside Israel. The British five-time Grammy award winning singer and guitarist cited the "intimidation and humiliation of Palestinian civilians" in an open letter explaining his decision. Costello's public snub represents another major coup for the global BDS (Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions) campaign and PACBI-the department dedicated to an academic and cultural boycott of apartheid Israel. Costello follows in the footsteps of such high profile performers as Santana and Gil Scott Heron, who also pulled out of tour dates in Israel recently. It is believed the combined pressure from various branches of the international BDS movement played a major part in Costello's decision, who as recently as two weeks ago was re-iterating his desire to go ahead with the concerts in Ceasarea, Haifa. In a letter on the musician's official website he expressed concern that performing in Israel would... Elivs Costello cancels Israel concerts Palestine Note 17 May 2010 - New York - Following pressure from boycott campaigners, rock musician Elvis Costello announced on Saturday that he is canceling a pair of scheduled concerts in Israel. In a statement on his website, Costello said the decision... On my way to Athens by Gilad Atzmon Gilad Atzmon, Gilad Atzmon 5/14/2010 Next week I am going to be traveling between Istanbul, Athens and Nicosia. I will be giving concerts and talks in support of the coming Free Gaza flotilla. In the last few days, I gave many interviews to Greek papers. Here is one. I guess that it sums up many of my thoughts about Israel, Zionism, Jewish identity, Palestine, Gaza and the Free Gaza mission. Q. Where were you born and where did you spend your early years? GA: I was born in Israel in 1963. It took me many years before I realized that the place I was born in was in fact occupied Palestine. Q. Musician, author, activist, philosopher – which of these identities suits you most? GA: I am a Jazz musician. In ideal terms I would love to see myself as a person who reinvents himself on a daily basis. This is obviously a wet fantasy, a task almost impossible to achieve. But it is something to aspire to. I am academically trained as a philosopher and believe that German philosophy sets the right framework for an articulate, ideological, ethical and universal thinking. I am also an author yet I do not regard myself as an activist. I have never understood what activism stands for. I may as well mention that I am not interested in politics but rather in meaning and implications of political activity and political thinking. Q: Why do you oppose your Jewish and Israeli identity? GA: I do not oppose Jewish or Israeli identity. I oppose any possible form of Jewish politics and indeed any identity politics. The reason is simple. Since Jewish identity is racially orientated, every permutation of Jewish politics is racist to the bone and I am obviously against racism. In fact, Israel and Zionism was originally an attempt to rescue the Jew from racist politics and racial political orientation.... more.. e-mail Gaza: Music to live by 16 May 2010 - Gaza, May 16, (Pal Telegraph – By Eva Bartlet) first published: (IPS) – “Why are you rushing? Isn’t it nicer like this?” Mohammed Omer, oud teacher (an oud is similar to a lute) at the Gaza Music School, asks his student. Omer takes the oud and demonstrates, playing the song slowly, gracefully, with the ornamentations that are key to Arab... Nakba Day observations span West Bank 5/16/2010 - International Solidarity Movement - The village of Al Ma'asara, near Bethlehem, held a Palestinian cultural festival on Friday to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Nakba. Palestinian music, dance and poetry were all on display, offering a timely reminder of Palestine's ancient history and vibrant culture. Above all, the event was an assertion of Palestinian identity, and of the.... music to live by In Gaza: 15 May 2010 - *photo by Emad Badwan first published: (IPS) – “Why are you rushing? Isn’t it nicer like this?” Mohammed Omer, oud teacher (an oud is similar to a lute) at the Gaza Music School, asks his student. Omer takes the oud and demonstrates, playing the song slowly, gracefully, with the ornamentations that are key to Arab music. Mohammed Abu Suffiya, the 10-year-old student, has only been studying for six months but has already learned to read music and play a working rendition of a well known song by Lebanese singer Fairouz. Glancing only now and then at the sheet music, he begins to play again, more slowly and with more expression, his teacher accompanying him on a tabla (hand drum). *photo by Emad Badwan Mohammed Omer, 28, is one of five teachers at the Gaza Music School in Tel el Howa, Gaza City. Formerly in the Al-Quds hospital Red Crescent complex,... music to live by In Gaza: 15 May 2010 - *photo by Emad Badwan first published: (IPS) – “Why are you rushing? Isn’t it nicer like this?” Mohammed Omer, oud teacher (an oud is similar to a lute) at the Gaza Music School, asks his student. Omer takes the oud and demonstrates, playing the song slowly, gracefully, with the ornamentations that are key to Arab music. Mohammed Abu Suffiya, the 10-year-old student, has only been studying for six months but has already learned to read music and play a working rendition of a well known song by Lebanese singer Fairouz. Glancing only now and then at the sheet music, he begins to play again, more slowly and with more expression, his teacher accompanying him on a tabla (hand drum). *photo by Emad Badwan Mohammed Omer, 28, is one of five teachers at the Gaza Music School in Tel el Howa, Gaza City. Formerly in the Al-Quds hospital Red Crescent complex,... Gaza: music to live by Uruknet May 14, 2010 - "Why are you rushing? Isn’t it nicer like this?" Mohammed Omer, oud teacher (an oud is similar to a lute) at the Gaza Music School, asks his student. Omer takes the oud and demonstrates, playing the song slowly, gracefully, with the ornamentations that are key to Arab music. Mohammed Abu Suffiya, the 10-year-old student, has only... MIDEAST: Children Fight Off Israel With Music IPS GAZA CITY, May 13 (IPS) - "Why are you rushing? Isn't it nicer like this?" Mohammed Omer, oud teacher (an oud is similar to a lute) at the Gaza Music School, asks his student. Omer takes the oud and demonstrates, playing the song slowly, gracefully, with the ornamentations that are... Gaza youth learn music and challenge the occupation Electronic Intifada: 14 May 2010 - GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IPS) - Mohammed Omer, 28, is one of five teachers at the Gaza Music School in Tel al-Howa, Gaza City. Formerly in the al-Quds hospital Red Crescent complex, the school moved to its current location not far from the hospital after the complex was bombed and burned during the 23-day Israeli assault on Gaza. Eva Bartlett reports. In photos: Making music in Rafah 5/13/2010 - Palestinian children take a music class at the SOS Children's Village in Rafah on 11 May 2010. MaanImages / Hatem Omar.... Award-winning musician jailed for 25 years for raping sisters, 6 and 10 Ha'aretz - Ephraim Yegudiev, poet and lyricist for the Israel Andalusian Orchestra, sentenced after his wife informed police of sex offenses. Ozzy Osbourne to perform in Israel in the summer Ha'aretz - Former Black Sabbath singer joins a rapidly expanding list of global music stars who will be performing in Israel this summer. Iran: Arrests at 'illegal show' YNet News - Islamic Republic continues to limit its citizens: Police in Tehran detained 80 "intoxicated" youngsters at an "illegal" musical performance, conservative newspaper Kayhan ....... Diverse musical ensemble bridges cultures Palestine Note 21 Apr 2010 - Chicago, Illinois - The arts profoundly reach our common core, transcend cultural barriers and link us together for a greater good. These are the reasons why Genesis at the Crossroads, a Chicago-based non-governmental organisation dedicated to... All that jazz in Pakistan Palestine Note 21 Apr 2010 - Karachi, Pakistan - Science fiction fans may remember how humans and aliens communicated with one another using a five-tone musical motif in the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind . The movie was also one... Gil Scott-Heron: don't go to the moon Electronic Intifada: 20 Apr 2010 - In an open letter to musician Gil Scott-Heron, The Electronic Intifada's Matthew Cassel urges him to cancel his upcoming concert in Tel Aviv: "Your scheduled concert in Tel Aviv is in direct violation of the call by Palestinian civil society for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. A similar boycott, which you full-heartedly supported, was called for in South Africa and helped bring an end to apartheid in that country." Video: SONGS FROM A LOST HOMELANDRhythms of resistance Uruknet April 6, 2010 - It may not be armed struggle, but music is an important weapon of cultural resistance and a means of safeguarding national identity for those Palestinian musicians living inside Israel and occupied east Jerusalem. "As Palestinians of 1948, we have struggled to stay on our land," says Rim al-Banna, a singer from Nazareth in the Galilee region... Edward Said conservatory launches competition 4/6/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music will launch its national music competition in Jerusalem between 8-20 April 2010 for the third year in a row. The competition will include all Palestinian areas, including West Bank, Gaza, Green Line areas and the occupied Golan Heights, a statement read. Musicians from all over Palestine will compete in all categories of music including voice. Beside a special prize Named after Marcel khalifeh for young composer. The competition will be judged by a jury of local and international musicians in different categories of music andcontestants will be divided into three age groups; Group I, below the age of 12; group II between ages 12 and 16; and group III, between ages 16 and 22. Music categories will include Arabic instruments, strings, brass and wind instruments, and guitar. 'Rhythms of resistance': Songs of Palestine and the Occupation Palestine Note 6 Apr 2010 - Al-Jazeera English explores the role of Arab Israeli (Palestinians who live inside the "green line" demarcating Israel's internationally recognized borders) singers and musicians in preserving Palestinian culture and resisting the Occupation in "Songs from a Lost... Jerusalem: Words, Lies and No Action Palestine Chronicle: 30 Mar 2010 - By Sonja Karkar 'There isn't one I haven't heard' or so goes one of the lines in a well-known American musical. Yet, this time the world is imbuing the words with new meaning when it comes to US/Israel relations. The hope is that at long last the US is going to discipline Israel. Alas, in the flurry of words, the music has not changed. America seems as much bedazzled by Israel as a parent who is blind to the antics of an over-indulged, demanding child. No amount of insults seems to shatter their illusion that the precious being is in fact a monster. In their attempts to convince the rest of us not so enamoured, they fail to see that they have allowed their symbiotic relationships to become abusive. Just as the parent can no longer control a child’s obnoxious behaviour, so too America finds itself hamstrung by Israel’s illegal...more US college debuts course on Palestinian culture 3/29/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies - An American college in Chicopee, Mass. will soon kick off a spring-summer series for adults this April with a non-credit course on Palestinian culture, news reports said. The Springfield, Mass. -based publication The Republican reported Saturday that a course offered by the Elms College will be presented by visiting scholar Ghada Issa, a Fulbright scholar teaching two semesters. "I will act as an ambassador of my country," Issa told the newspaper. "I will give an introduction [to Palestinian culture] from my point of view as a Palestinian, and let others know about my culture and my people. " According to the report, the five-week course will cover social life, religion, language, music and traditional Palestinian embroidery. Issa said she will also teach students some basic moves to traditional Palestinian dance. Related: Elms College Words!words!words! Palestine Note 29 Mar 2010 - "There isn't one I haven't heard" or so goes one of the lines in a well-known American musical. Yet, this time the world is imbuing the words with new meaning when it comes to US/Israel relations.... "We are defending our culture": an interview with Samir Joubran Electronic Intifada: 29 Mar 2010 - Earlier this month the Palestinian group Le Trio Joubran gave a concert in Geneva to support the work of the Association Meyrin-Palestine, which is planning to build a cultural center in Gaza. Le Trio Joubran is comprised of three brothers, Samir, Wissam and Adnan Joubran, who play the oud , a pear-shaped instrument from the Middle East related to the lute. The Electronic Intifada contributor Adri Nieuwhof spoke with Samir Joubran about the trio's music. VIDEO - Animation produced in Palestine: struggles with breast cancer in Gaza 3/25/2010 - International Solidarity Movement - Directed by Ahmad Habash - Fatenah is a 27 year old woman living in the Gaza Strip. Her life is similar to the lives of many other women in Gaza. Her life changes the day she discovers to have breast cancer. This animation, the first produced in Palestine, shows with great accuracy the scenarios of Gaza city. The 27 minutes long story is a breath-taking journey into Fatenah's daily struggles. It uncovers the human drama of her fight to survive. This journey into the heart of the Gaza Strip will touch and move you. - In 3 parts - Directed by Ahmad Habash, Screenplay Saed Andoni, Ahmad Habash, Ambrogio Manenti, Produced by Saed Andoni, Music Said Murad, Editing Saed Andoni, Animation Ahmad Habash, Director of Photography Ahmad Habash, Sound Designer -- Zaher Rashmawi, Voices – Actors: Buthaina Sumairi (Fatenah), Ahmad Abu Saloom (Abu Rasheed), Shaden Saleem (Amal), Imad Ahmad (Mualem), Mesbah Deeb (Ayman), Waleed Aqel (Dr. Hebron rappers release debut album 3/20/2010 - Hebron - Ma'an - The Black Revolution, a Hebron rap group, released its debut album on Saturday entitled Revolution, with songs describing the situation in the southern West Bank city in particular, and conditions across the occupied Palestinian territories. Written by band members and recorded at the studios of the Palestinian Center for Information, Research and Development, the album includes nine songs. Two of the songs, Soldier and BR, have accompanying music videos, directed by Shadi Ash-Sharif and Mousa Al-Qawasmi in Gaza, with footage of Israel's 2008-2009 assault on the coastal enclave taken from the archives of the Palestinian Broadcasting Cooperation. The album's cover sleeve includes the lyrics in both Arabic and English. Members of The Black Revolution told journalists that their debut album conveyed the voice of Palestinians to the international and local community. THE GAZA MUSIC SCHOOL Uruknet March 20, 2010 - On Tuesday 23 December 2008, in the theater of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Tal El-Hawa, in Gaza City, was given a concert to mark the first three months of teaching at the Gaza Music School. We listened to an orchestra, solo performances of mature musicians, as well as little girls and boys who tried... Thousands Attend Sheikh Jarrah Demonstration, Internationals Attacked by Riot Police 3/13/2010 - International Solidarity Movement - Saturday, March 6th - Thousands attended last Saturday's demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah, demanding an end to the home evictions which have displaced hundreds of Palestinian residents. Gathering peacefully for speeches and live music in the park opposite the neighborhood, demonstrators chanted and sang before marching in the streets and attempting to pass the police barricades which obstructed demonstrators from reaching the neighborhood itself. Settlers held a small counter-demonstration in a nearby street. Following the demonstration, Palestinian and settler residents returned to the neighborhood. As the street filled with people, a group of several dozen riot police ran down the street towards the gathering crowd. After clearing the crowds to the sidewalk, police began grabbing the International activists who were standing peacefully on the sidewalk. Bethlehem remembers slain fighters 3/12/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - Palestinians in Bethlehem marked the two-year anniversary of the Israeli assassination of four local men on Friday, an event that shocked the city. Israeli operatives driving a car with Palestinian license plates gunned down Mohammad Shahada, Issa Marzouq, Imad Al-Kamel, and Ahmad Al-Balboul while they were waiting in a car outside of a bakery in Bethlehem's city center early on the evening of 12 March 2008. All four were members of Palestinain political factions or militant wings banned by Israel: Shahada, Marzouq and Al-Kamel were members of Islamic Jihad. Al-Balboul was affiliated with Fatah's Al-Aqsa Brigades. In a memorial on Friday, Palestinians in cars waving flags and playing patriotic music paraded down Bethlehem's main street. The spectacular killing of four prominent men caused deep sorrow and rage in Bethlehem. for the children In Gaza: 5 Mar 2010 - Arab Abu Ghazel, northern Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip: we are roughly 1 km from the norther border, in an area which was doused by bombs during Israel’s winter 2008-2009 massacre of Gaza. the area, with the norther border near, the sea a few kilometres away, and the eastern border within earshot, is regularly inundated with the Israeli army shelling and shooting that others hear less frequently, padded by city walls or cafe music. the children living here are among Gaza’s poorest, largely from bedouin families whose herding-based incomes have been been decimated by the absence of growth, fodder, for their flocks, by the bombings, by the siege. the children are traumatized multiple times over, by Israel’s war games, by their poverty, by their geographical isolation. GIVE and Local Initiative, two Gaza-based organizations, are visiting these 50 or so children, throwing a party today, alleviating their stress and boredom, if temporarily.... Tulkarem radio host ordered held for 50 days 3/3/2010 - Tulkarem - Ma'an - An Israeli military court sentenced the director of a Ma'an-affiliated Tulkarem radio station to 50 days in prison and a 1,500 shekel penalty. Omar Bleidy, owner and sometimes host of the Tulkarem station Kul An-Nas (All the People) was seized from his home by Israeli soldiers on Tuesday night. Witnesses said soldiers surrounded Bleidy's house before detaining him. Bleidy has not been charged with any crime, and the reasons for his detention remain unclear. The local station broadcasts a variety of general interest programs, news and music. Kul An-Nas is a member station of Ma'an Network. Bleidy was among ten detained overnight, according to Israeli media, with one detained from Jenin, two from the Ramallah area and six from the Bethlehem municipality. Israeli media said all ten were "wanted" by Israeli officials. Reports from the Bethlehem-area town of Ad-Doha and the Duheisha refugee camp confirmed the reported six detentions from the area. Author David Grossman receives lifetime achievement award Ha'aretz 2 Mar 2010 - The Composers, Authors and Publishers Society of Israel (ACUM) has chosen author David Grossman as one of the recipients of this year's lifetime-achievement awards, the organization announced yesterday. ... Al-Asheqeen bandleader: A dream come true 3/1/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - Mohammed Diab, a singer and leader of the renowned Palestinian band Al-Asheqeen spoke with Ma'an on Monday about his London-based musical group, his career, and his first trip to the occupied Palestinian territories. Diab, born in a Syrian refugee camp, said "it was like a dream come true to be in Palestine. I can't believe it myself. I love Palestine - it is a very beautiful country and words are not enough to describe what I am feeling right now. " "Palestine is a special nation, totally different from any other," he told Ma'an's editor-in-chief, Nasser Lahham. "I say to all Palestinians refugee camps abroad [the right of return] is so close. A day will come when all Palestinians will arrive to the homeland. I have traveled to Holland, across the UK and Lebanon, and wherever I go, they call on me to sing my national songs, which speak of Palestine, incarceration, and Palestinian suffering under occupation. " . . . . In photos: US hip hop group HaviKoro perform in Nablus 2/19/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - The US Consulate in Jerusalem sponsored local performances by The HaviKoro Crew, a hip hop group based in Houston, Texas, playing to capacity crowds in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, organizers said. The crew, whose next stop is Jordan, are part of an ongoing initiative by the US representatives officeto promote "mutual understanding and stronger ties between Palestinians and Americans," a statement said. The initiative has seen Jazz, rap and Swing groups perform across Palestine in recent years, in what was described as an effort to expose Palestinians to music and culture that is uniquely American, with a global influence. HaviKoro, like the bands that came before them, performed for audiences and conducted workshops across Palestine. Students in Ramallah, Nablus and East Jerusalem were treated to day-long dance classes as the crew shared their moves with eager children and young adults. Stockholm Technical University tried to stop meeting about research collaboration with Israel Palestine Monitor: 17 Feb 2010 - Wednesday 10 February Rector Peter Gudmundson of the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) decided that a meeting entitled "Why should we boycott Israel?" would not be allowed to use the premises of the university. The organizers of the meeting, The Action Group at KTH for Boycott of Israel, considered that Rector's decision is at odds with the constitutional right to assembly. Therefore the meeting was held as scheduled. The meeting focused largely on the relations between KTH and Israel Institute of Technology Technion, Haifa, with which KTH has an agreement about collaboration since 1998. The agreement is about exchange of students, teachers, research staff and general research cooperation. In order to discuss the issue of boycott as an instrument to make Israel respect International Law, the Action group invited the famous Swedish-Israeli composer and artist Dror Feiler, who is also the President of European Jews for a Just Peace. He... Adalah-NY: New York Campaign for Boycott of Israel 2/12/2010 - WAFA - Palestine News Agency - NEW YORK, February 12, 2010 (WAFA- For the third year in a row, human rights advocates will use music, song parodies and chants to invite Madison Avenue shoppers to shop with conscience before Valentine’s Day, Adalah-NY reported. Under the theme “Diamonds are Forever, but Apartheid Has to End”, protesters will entertain while they educate with favorites like “Lev's Diamond’s Are a Crime’s Best Friend” and new editions like “Its Apartheid, So you shouldn't put a ring on it“ sung to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies. ”These efforts, which are part of a growing international campaign, come in response to documented human rights abuses in the Angolan diamond industry as well as Leviev's funding of Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, an activity that violates international law. Since the start of the boycott campaign against Leviev, UNICEF, Oxfam, the British Government and major Hollywood stars have all distanced themselves from Leviev. Naseer Shamma and the music of resistance Electronic Intifada: 4 Feb 2010 - Celebrated Iraqi musician Naseer Shamma plays emotive compositions in beautiful tones on the oud to major audiences across the Middle East, stirring musical reflections on human realities in US-occupied Iraq. Although Iraqi current affairs are clearly interwoven into Shamma's sound, it is also unique musical talent that has earned Shamma a reputation as one of the world's preeminent oud players. Stefan Christoff profiles Shamma for The Electronic Intifada. Said conservatory preps for national competition 2/2/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music invited Palestinian youth from the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel and the occupied Golan Heights to participate in their third national music competition. From 2001-2005 the conservatory hosted internal competitions annually, and in 2006 they opened the spectacle to a national body of musicians, hosting the event biennially. The 2008 competition was the first to include voice. A statement from conservatory officials said the competition "aims at encouraging young musicians and music students to improve their musical performance and at enriching the musical culture in Palestine as a whole. "Mohamad Maragha, the activity coordinator at the conservatory, said the event was the only one of its kind in Palestine, bringing together multiple facets of Palestinian music from all parts of Palestine. Exhibition "Palestine is beautiful - Innovation picture .. .. the article explicitly and realistic 1 Feb 2010 - West Bank, February 01, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) -Sharek Youth Forum opened in cooperation with the French-German Cultural Center yesterday, the exhibition "Palestine pretty" pictures, films, writings, and music of the Middle Eastern media Bags Curzon Hall last Ramallah, which will continue until 15 February, the exhibits presented during the festival Binali Clermont Veareran "codes for a trip travel" in France.... TWENTY-TWO HOURS IN SHEIKH JARRAH Palestine Monitor - 18 Jan 2010 - January 14, 2010: a concert in Sheikh Jarrah featuring the politically-charged musical groups DAM and System Ali. January 15, 2010: the weekly demonstration against house evictions at the same location. The problem: only one permit for public gatherings was issued for the week. The result: mass... From now on, only Israeli music to be played at schools Ha'aretz 13 Jan 2010 - Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) Tuesday instructed school principals to play only Israeli music over loudspeakers to mark study breaks and to use Israeli songs more frequently in school ceremonies. ... Record numbers crowd Bethlehem for New Year’s 1/2/2010 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - Bethlehem's halls and restaurants were filled New Year's Eve with an estimated 10,000 out of town visitors from all parts of the West Bank, and the city's Manger Square was full of celebrators though no official event had been arranged. Tickets for private parties in dozens of Bethlehem hotels were sold out, celebrations in Beit Sahour and Beit Jala were also full. Parties had guests from Hebron in the south, Ramallah in the center, Nablus, Qalqiliya, and Jenin in the north as well as Nazareth, Haifa and Jerusalem. For the first time, Bethlehem residents saw street parties, concentrated in Manger Square, where locals and international tourists and pilgrims celebrated and danced to music spontaneously pumped out of car speakers and phones. Police were caught off guard by the large numbers in the street, and huge ammounts of traffic turning Bethlehem streets into parking lots in the hours around midnight. [uruknet.info] Israeli Arab MK: Barak enjoys classical music and killing Gaza children Uruknet January 1, 2010 - Some 1,000 people, among them all of Israel's Arab MKs and community leaders, gathered Thursday at the Israeli side of the Gaza border to express solidarity with the residents of Gaza, one year after Israel's offensive there. MK Taleb A-Sana relayed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's message to the Israeli side via a mobile phone. During the... Hundreds celebrate Christmas Mass in Bethlehem YNet News 25 Dec 2009 - Palestinian worshippers, pilgrims gather in Jesus' traditional birthplace to celebrate Christian holiday. 'It's interesting seeing the dichotomy of religions, nationalities mixing together. There's a lot of respect for each other,' says young American musician visiting holy city for first time Manger Square celebrations a party for all 12/25/2009 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - After Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal lead dozens of scouts through Bethlehem's Star Street and into Manger Square, families milled around the Old City, enjoying carols, hot corn, roasted nuts and cotton candy. Kids of all ages and visitors from all corners of the West Bank joined pilgrims and dignitaries for the live music under the glow of thousands of Christmas lights. Palestinians of every faith shared in the sounds of artists from around the world, preferring dance rhythms to the mournful songs, many penned in the honor of peace for Palestine. Khalid, selling hot cardamon coffee to revelers in the square, rolled his eyes at one artist, telling his customers to "make peace happen. ""We forget about the occupation today, it's a party; we are here to have fun," he said. Dancers took the break as songs for peace in Spanish rippled across the open air venue,. . . Bethlehem gets first Christmas rock concert PNN 23 Dec 2009 - BETHLEHEM, West Bank — O Come All Ye Faithful to Bethlehem's first Christmas rock festival. A young musician who grew up near Jesus' traditional birthplace feels the old-fashioned way of marking the holiday — hanging around Manger Square and listening to carols — is a little dull.So Emmanuel Fleckenstein has organized a three-day battle of the bands that he hopes will attract... [uruknet.info] JORDAN: Palestinian Refugees Live Out Lives in Limbo Uruknet December 22, 2009 - Music enlivens the yellow taxi as it traverses the Jordanian capital. A small Palestinian flag hangs from the rearview mirror. Jihad, the cab driver, says his father fled here from the Palestinian West Bank in 1948. "Thank God almighty, life is good for me here and I can offer my family a decent life," he says. "... JORDAN: Palestinian Refugees Live Out Lives in Limbo IPS AMMAN, Dec 21 (IPS) - Music enlivens the yellow taxi as it traverses the Jordanian capital. A small Palestinian flag hangs from the rearview mirror. Jihad, the cab driver, says his father fled here from the Palestinian West Bank in 1948. Palestinian refugees in Jordan live out their lives in constant 'temporary' limbo Daily Star 22 Dec 2009 Music enlivens the yellow taxi as it traverses the Jordanian capital. A small Palestinian flag hangs from the rearview mirror. Jihad, the cab driver, says his father fled here from the Palestinian West Bank in 1948. "Thank God almighty, life is good for me here and I can offer my family a decent life," he says. "While my father was Palestinian, I feel today Jordanian and I hold the Jordanian nationality. Israeli repression of Palestinian celebrations in the heart of Jerusalem 12/19/2009 - International Solidarity Movement - 17 December - A spectacular and proud celebration of Palestinian and Arab culture in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday, December 17, 2009, was brutally repressed by Israeli military and police. A rare celebration of Palestinian and Arab culture in Jerusalem's Old City started around 10:30am on Thursday, December 17, 2009, with a group of musicians leading a march from Damascus Gate to the very center of the Old City, attracting marchers and cheers from merchants and shoppers along the route. Thursday's celebrations served not only as a reassertion of Palestinian identity in occupied Jerusalem, but also as a local closing event for Jerusalem as Capital of Arab Culture for 2009. The official closing ceremony, however, was held in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, that afternoon, since the Israeli government has prohibited such expressions of Palestinian identity and culture in the areas under its immediate military control, which include Jerusalem. True Sound of Palestine PNN 8 Dec 2009 - Khaled Jubran was born in Galilee in 1961. After studying Musicology,Music theory and Composition, and teaching at Jerusalem's Rubin Academy, in 1994 he founded and headed the Arabic music department of the Palestinian National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah as well as being a member of its Oriental Music Ensemble. In 2001, he founded the Urmawi Centre for Mashriq Music, named after... Is Angelina Jolie sponsoring Jordanian orphans? Ha'aretz 9 Dec 2009 - Famous actress and philanthropist Angelina Jolie has been secretly supporting seven Jordanian children and is considering buying them a house, Contact music website reported on Wednesday. ... Olive harvest concludes with festival, new report 12/6/2009 - Stop The Wall - Several weeks ago, the olive harvest concluded with a festival in the Nablus area village of Burin. Under the banner “our enemies are the settlements and our path is resistance”, the festival celebrated the end of the harvest with traditional dance and music from local groups and a number of speakers. Both party representatives as well as grassroots activists attended the festival, where they praised farmers and their steadfastness (sumud) in the face of the ongoing assault by soldiers and settlers. The settlers near Burin are especially infamous, meaning the village is attacked frequently; last month 1,200 trees were burned or cut by settlers, and 3,000 faced the same fate the month before. Speakers then turned to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), demanding that it take up its responsibility to protect and support the farmers. -- Link: Download the Olive Harvest 2009 report (PDF) UN uses speeches, photo exhibit and concert to voice solidarity with Palestinians 11/30/2009 - United Nations - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Riyad H. Mansour of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine30 November 2009 – The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is being observed today at United Nations Headquarters in New York with a special commemorative meeting, a new photographic exhibition and a concert by Maqamat, an orchestra of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music. Addressing today’s meeting, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that it is vital that a sovereign State of Palestine is achieved, noting that the Palestinian people continue to struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination – a fundamental, universal human right enjoyed by so many others across the world. “Vigorous international efforts are essential for advancing the political process, ending the occupation and achieving a solution to all permanent status issues,” he stated. Greek football delegation concludes Palestine tour 11/29/2009 - Bethlehem - Ma'an - A Greek delegation of veteran footballers and musicians left the occupied Palestinian territories on Saturday evening, following a week of events and visits organized by the Greek organization Struggle Until Victory Forever. The delegation included Greek singer Vasilis Lekkas and a number of Greece's members of parliament. On Thursday, a friendly football match was held between veteran Palestinian and Greek footballers at the Feisal Husseini Stadium in Ar-Ram, the Palestinian team winning 3-1. The Greek delegation toured Palestinian refugee camps and the Israeli Separation Wall, in addition to late President Yasser Arafat's grave in Ramallah, where they placed flowers. A tour of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was postponed on Friday until the afternoon, as the Struggle Until Victory, Forever delegation participated in the Bil'in and Ni'lin protests against Israel's Separation Wall. Residents of Sheikh Jarrah hold Eid al-Adha prayers and demonstrations against ethnic cleansing and house evictions 11/29/2009 - International Solidarity Movement - 27 November - On Friday 27 November 2009, the Eid al-Adha celebration in Sheikh Jarrah, a Palestinian neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem, was marked by prayers and demonstrations. In the night unto Eid, the sleep in the neighbourhood was disturbed at 2am by loud music coming from a street party attended by Jewish settler youths, who gathered outside the Shimon HaTzadik Tomb, located just behind the Palestinian houses. This is the same location from which Jewish settlers threw stones at the Palestinian houses in the middle of the night on Friday 6 November. The disturbing music was played for 30 minutes until the police blue-lights drew near. At 7am, the Palestinian families gathered in an open field in the neighbourhood to hold the traditional Eid Friday prayer. The prayer was led by Sheikh Raed Salah, an influential and well known imam, who in his speech talked about the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948, 1967, and until present. VIDEO - Ctrl Alt Shift Film Competition Winner No Way Through 11/24/2009 - YouTube - Written and Directed by: Alexandra Monro + Sheila Menon, Mentor: Jim Threapleton, Music: The Thirst -- No Way Through highlights mobility restrictions imposed in the West Bank, that are limiting its habitants access to health care, thus violating a fundamental human right. Take Action to help people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories get justice. -- Links: Ambulances Denied Access to Neighborhoods in E. Jerusalem without Police Escort [end] Burin celebrates successful olive harvest, despite numerous settler attacks 11/19/2009 - International Solidarity Movement - 18 November 2009 - On Wednesday 18 November, the village of Burin (south of Nablus) celebrated the successful conclusion of its olive harvest. More than 400 villagers came together to hear speeches by locals and nationally renowned politicians (including member of Knesset Mohammed Baraka, general secretary of Hadash), as well as to see the young men of the village dance the Dabke, the traditional dance of Palestine. A large stage with sound system had been set up outside the local boys' school and the festivities commenced at around 11am. Braving weather that seemed to change every 5 minutes from pleasantly warm to freezing cold, the villagers listened to speeches and music in clear view from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar, one that has caused its fair share of problems for the village during the harvest. Only 6 days before the event, settlers from Yitzhar attacked the fields of Burin, cutting down 97 trees.
Gilad jazz in support of Palestinian plight John Lewis - LONDON, Middle East Online 3/7/2009 Israeli artist - one of London’s finest saxophonists - takes Palestinian cause with him on British tour - Manic Beat Preacher - A few days before I meet Gilad Atzmon, he finds himself at the centre of an international storm. The prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoǧan, has approvingly cited Atzmon during a debate with Israeli president Shimon Peres. "Atzmon, a Jew himself," said Erdoǧan, "says that Israeli barbarity is far beyond even ordinary cruelty. "Ever since, Atzmon has been getting 200 emails a day, his BlackBerry is constantly buzzing and his words are being debated by hundreds of bloggers around the world. Atzmon is revelling in the attention. "A world leader quoting an artist? " he laughs. "Isn’t that incredible? Not a singer, not even a fucking pianist, but a stupid fucking saxophonist! Ha!" It may come as a surprise to some that Atzmon is a saxophonist at all. His career as a musician has long been drowned out by the clatter of his extra-curricular activities:. . . more.. e-mail
Lebanese composer Mansour Rahbani dies Middle East Online 1/13/2009 BEIRUT - Lebanese composer and musician Mansour Rahbani, 83, a well-known figure in the Arab world, died on Tuesday following a long illness, Lebanon’s national news agency announced. Rahbani was the brother-in-law of Lebanese singing diva Fairuz, for whom he composed many poems and songs along with his brother Assi. [end]
Haredi listeners fear séance involved in album production Yoav Friedman, YNetNews 12/9/2008 (Audio) New CD featuring digitally mastered tracks based on old recordings of dead cantors prompt concern among buyers fearing producers ’raised the dead’ to record album - AUDIO - A recently released album containing songs performed by legendary cantors has been causing turmoil among the ultra-Orthodox community due to the simple fact that the performers are all dead. Record company AMC, which produced the album titled "In Those Days, At This Season," used old recordings, had the sound digitally improved and added background music performed by a philharmonic orchestra. This process of audio manipulation has apparently disturbed many buyers, who flooded the company with questions and complaints: "How is it that the cantor knows to wait for the orchestra? There must be some sort of spell here - is this séance? Does the Halacha allow tampering with the voices of. . . more.. e-mail
The microphone is the weapon Noam Ben-Zeev, Ha’aretz 12/4/2008 BETHLEHEM, the end of November - "The European-Palestinian Hip Hop Tour" arrives after gigs in Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah. At 7 P. M. the Al Nadwa Cultural Center is already buzzing. Palestinian-German rapper Wassim Taha, aka Massive, is thrilling the audience, Palestinian-Danish rapper Mohammad Marwan, aka Marwan - symbolically dressed like an injured person, using crutches - both sings and moderates the evening and also talks on the phone to PR, the Gazan rapper who was not allowed to leave the Strip to join the concert. Everyone is waiting for the international star, Shadia Mansour - the British Palestinian who mixes rock and Arab folk music and whose voice shifts from hard rap to nearly operatic lyricism. Her coming on stage is greeted by huge applause and her set has everyone dancing. more.. e-mail
VIDEO - Gaza hip-hop trio overcomes many obstacles to transmit music to world Haaretz Staff and Channel 10, Ha’aretz 11/26/2008 Haaretz. com/Channel 10 daily feature for November 25, 2008 Three young Gaza residents harboring no small amount of frustration have found a creative outlet to transmit their message to the world. The three comprise "Black Unit Band," a hip-hop trio making music in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, not always the friendliest breeding ground for Western culture. But even getting music made depends on Israel’s goodwill. The studio in which Black Unit Band was recording their first album closed down recently due to power outages, brought on by Israel’s refusal to let fuel into the coastal territory. But they plan on heading back to the studio soon, and there’s no doubt that current events will continue to provide excellent fodder for new material. more.. e-mail
Mahmoud Darwish Commemorated in London Mamoon Alabbasi - London, Palestine Chronicle 11/7/2008 ’Darwish’s vision lives on after his death. ’The life and works of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish were celebrated in London Monday in a special event that paid tribute to the renowned Arab writer. The event, organised by Exiled Writers Ink, included readings from the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish and other poets, literary analyses of some of his work, a short musical piece, and a documentary extract. Wasting little time on prose, Fathieh Saudi, poet and chair of Exiled Writers Ink, recited verses of Darwish’s poetry at the intervals when presenting each participant. A poem by Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter in memory of Mahmoud Darwish was read on his behalf by Joanna Carolan, a writer and performer. The poem, entitled ’Death’, ended with:Did you wash the dead body Did you close both its eyes Did you bury the body Did you leave it abandoned Did you kiss the dead body The more.. e-mail
’Riot grrrl’ fuses feminism with Zionism in pioneering publication Raphael Ahren, Ha’aretz 11/7/2008 Hadass Ben-Ari is not the first Anglo to move to Jerusalem because she "fell in love" with Israel during a short-term visit. But while most other Jews her age come to the capital to study or to work for a Jewish organization, the 26-year-old Ben-Ari spends her time publishing Fallopian Falafel, "the first and only Jerusalem-based feminist zine, bringing riot grrrl culture to the holy land. ""Riot grrrl" is no typo but an underground feminist punk/heavy metal movement that started in America in the early 1990s. Besides being a music scene, the riot grrrl subculture consists of political activism and a spirit of DIY (Do it yourself), which includes the publication of so-called zines (short for fanzine) - non-commercial pamphlets with small circulations. "It was mostly a self defense mechanism," Ben-Ari said in explaining how she got involved with the movement as a 22-year-old journalism student while living with her parents in Canada. more.. e-mail
Mahmoud Darwish commemorated in London Mamoon Alabbasi – LONDON, Middle East Online 11/6/2008 The life and works of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish were celebrated in London Monday in a special event that paid tribute to the renowned Arab writer. The event, organised by Exiled Writers Ink, included readings from the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish and other poets, literary analyses of some of his work, a short musical piece, and a documentary extract. Wasting little time on prose, Fathieh Saudi, poet and chair of Exiled Writers Ink, recited verses of Darwish’s poetry at the intervals when presenting each participant. A poem by Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter in memory of Mahmoud Darwish was read on his behalf by Joanna Carolan, a writer and performer. The poem, entitled ‘Death’, ended with: Did you wash the dead body Did you close both its eyes Did you bury the body Did you leave it abandoned Did you kiss. . . more.. e-mail
You can’t say no to peace Noam Ben Zeev, Ha’aretz 10/8/2008 Musicians from 70 leading orchestras and 40 countries, including someIsraelis from local orchestras and even one Palestinian, will gather here to perform for a symbolic fee, under the heading "A message of peace to Israel and the Middle East. "By playing "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" by Berliner Felix Mendelssohn and works by Viennese composer Gustav Mahler and contemporary British composer Roxanna Panufnik, they will reflect the "unique strength of music as an ambassador of peace," according to the man who founded the orchestra in 1993, legendary conductor Georg Solti. What is there about classical music that causes it to serve repeatedly as a symbol of peace and brotherhood? According to the cliche, since music is an abstract art and lacks all elements of representation such as visuals or ideas (and in the opinion of composer Igor Stravinsky even emotions), it is capable of bridging cultural differences. more.. e-mail
Tag Rugby Match at Taybeh Oktoberfest Maria C. Khoury – Taybeh, West Bank, Palestine Chronicle 10/2/2008 ’The Taybeh Oktoberfest is a two days event promoting local products with music and dance groups. ’The community of Taybeh, in the West Bank is going to keep its leading role this year by continuing to make history in Palestine. Along with introducing the first Palestinian non-alcoholic beer at the 2008 Oktoberfest, Taybeh will also host the first time ever Tag Rugby Match in Palestine between the Ramallah Blue Snakes and Beit Jala Lions RFC at 1 pm on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at the Taybeh Soccer Field, North entrance of Taybeh. If you like to see amazing and extraordinary things just come to Taybeh. As a side note, October 12th was the first Oktoberfest ever held in the world in Bavaria in 1810. The first Rugby Club in Palestine was founded in October 2007 in Beit Jala when a group of young men set up the first Palestinian Rugby Team ( www. more.. e-mail
Rugby and local products in Taybeh Palestine News Network 10/2/2008 Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D. - The community of Taybeh is continuing to make history in Palestine this year with the first tag rugby match planned for Oktoberfest. Music and local products will be part of the celebration. Along with introducing the first Palestinian non alcoholic beer at the 2008 Oktoberfest, Taybeh will also host the first time ever Tag Rugby Match in Palestine between the Ramallah Blue Snakes and Beit Jala Lions RFC at 1 pm on Sunday, 12 October 12 at the Taybeh Soccer Field, North entrance of Taybeh. The first Rugby Club in Palestine was founded in October 2007 in Beit Jala when a group of young men set up the first Palestinian Rugby Team (see link) with the help of Kevin Kelleher and Leam O’Brain who continue their current support from Ireland. The team consists of twelve official passionate players from the age of eighteen to twenty-eight. -- See also: www.beitjalalions.com more.. e-mail
Celebration of other voices Ayelet Dekel, Ha’aretz 10/3/2008 "My poem is in classic Arabic. I hope someone will understand it," said Wael Ahmad Ammoorah, a Lebanese-Jordanian poet visiting Israel for the first time as part of the three-day Sha’ar International Poetry Festival, which was held last month and organized by Helicon - the Society for the Advancement of Poetry in Israel. Icelandic, Chinese and Dutch were among the languages heard in quick succession as the festival opened with a "world tour" of 14 poets reading in 12 different languages. The auditorium was filled with an audience eager for dialogue, attentive to the music and emotion of the poets’ voices. In the outside courtyard of Tel Aviv’s Inbal Ethnic Theater stood a poetry "tree," with poems hanging from its branches, swaying in the nighttime breeze, beckoning passersby to linger a little and read. more.. e-mail
Relationships of self, state and suffering among big questions at new art show Ma’an News Agency 9/29/2008 Bethlehem – Ma’an – A cooperative art project titled “id - Identity of the Soul” is scheduled to have its global debut in Palestine this October. Begun before Darwish’s death on 9 August, the show will memorialize the ideas of the poet, who was buried in Ramallah on 13 August amidst throngs of Palestinian and international mourners. Among the central questions to be raised by the performance are those about the individual and their relationship with the state. The multidisciplinary art show combines archival film footage, new cinematic creations, live dance, music and poetry presented on a stage surrounded by five 8x5 meter screens, and inspired by the works of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, andNorwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The show was put together by the Oslo-based branch of the UK Arts Alliance, and inspired by two principal works. more.. e-mail
Cairo-based American acoustic trio wraps up West Bank tour Ma’an News Agency 9/26/2008 Bethlehem – Ma’an – The United States Consulate in Jerusalem once again brought an American music act to cities in the West Bank, keeping with its annual Ramadan tradition. This year, the Ramadan program headlined Cairo-based American acoustic trio The Fuuls, which performed its self-described “Americana set” at live shows in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem. Musicians on guitar, sax, dobro and bass, along with vocals—some new, others borrowed from classic rockers like David Bowie and the Rolling Stones—kicked off the concert portion of the program at an at-capacity public concert in Ramallah on Monday. Post-Iftar performances in Jerusalem and Beit Sahour followed on Tuesday and Wednesday, while workshops were conducted in Nablus and Bethlehem between shows. The band’s renditions of rock and country songs intrigued Palestinian audiences at a Tuesday show near Bethlehem. more.. e-mail
Classic in a modern tone Rania Khallaf, Al-Ahram Weekly 9/25/2008 Rania Khallaf tunes in to the modern voice of Sayed Darwish - It took only few years for Eskendrella to acquire its fame and an audience. Formed like many other musical groups in Egypt in 2005, the band with its focus on Sayed Darwish and Sheikh Imam Eissa’s music immediately clicked with audiences of all ages. My first encounter with the band was just a few months after their first performance at Saqiyat Al-Sawy. Three years is not a long time to allow for assessment, but one could say that the band has truly succeeded in attracting more and more audiences of all walks of life, including foreigners, in Cairo. The name Eskendrella is a mix of " Eskendria ", the colloquial name for Alexandria, and Cinderella. "We find it an attractive and expressive name. "It tells much about us: we are the Cinderella of modern singing and Eskendria is our beloved city, where Sayed Darwish was born," says Shadi Mo’ness, oud player and one of the founders of the band. more.. e-mail
US Fulbrighter promotes peace through music with Palestinian-Israeli band Ma’an News Agency 9/22/2008 Jerusalem -Ma’an/Agencies – To cap off his year as a Fulbright-MTV scholar, Aaron Shneyer presided over a special concert at Jerusalem’s International YMCA on 21 September, International Peace Day. The concert brought together Israeli and Palestinian musicians who participated in Mr. Shneyer’s “Heartbeat Project,” conducted with support from the US government’s Fulbright program. Under the “Heartbeat Project,” Mr Shneyer reached out to young Palestinian and Israeli musicians to invite them to joint jam sessions on a weekly basis over the course of many months in order to form a joint Israeli-Palestinian band. Mr Shneyer described the sessions as an opportunity to “come together each week to experience and explore music’s power to bring people together and create meaningful social change. ”He said the young musicians “have taught each other makamat and blues scales, they have written. . . more.. e-mail
Ethereal entertainment makes its way down Hamra Street Special to The Daily Star, Daily Star 9/4/2008 BEIRUT: You can hear Cie le SAMU making their way along Hamra Street long before you can see them. The jazz music of the four-piece band works its way along the boulevard, swelling the sense of anticipation among the small crowd waiting at the Hamra Center square. A drummer leads three other musicians, trundling her drum-kit along on a specially fitted trolley. Behind her, the three men play brass instruments as they follow behind the beat. As they reach the square, the performance of "A bout de Souffle" truly begins. The musicians sit down beside customers at a neighboring cafe, playing their instruments from the chairs lining the pavement. At this close range, it becomes possible to notice the details in their costumes and the hair that has been powered gray before its time - designed to give an impression of age, which the players played upon repeatedly throughout their performance. more.. e-mail
Haredim move to eradicate ’foreign’ pop Matthew Wagner, Jerusalem Post 9/2/2008 Musicians who use rock, rap, reggae and trance influences will not receive rabbinic approval for their CDs, nor will they be allowed to play in wedding halls under haredi kosher food supervision, according to a new, detailed list of guidelines drafted with rabbinical backing that differentiates between "kosher" and "treif" music. The guidelines, which are still being formulated, also ban "2-4 beats and other rock and disco beats;" the "improper" use of electric bass, guitars and saxophones; and singing words from holy sources in a disrespectful, frivolous manner. "Michael Jackson-style music has no place in our community," says Mordechai Bloi, a senior member of the Guardians of Sanctity and Education, an organization based in Bnei Brak that enforces what it sees as normative haredi behavior. "We might be able to adopt Bach or Beethoven, music with class, but not goyishe African music and beats. more.. e-mail
The Voice of Mahmoud Darwish Ibtisam Barakat, Middle East Online 8/15/2008 COLUMBIA, Missouri – On Saturday August 9th in the afternoon, I was getting ready to give a talk about Palestinian olive trees to a gathering of authors and thinkers at Keystone College in Pennsylvania. For the title of the presentation, I cracked the word olive in two, and turned it into O’ Live! But death mocked me. Shortly before I left my room for the talk, the phone rang. It was my friend, musician Saed Muhssin, calling me from San Francisco. His voice was deep like a valley, barely climbing up to speak: “Have you heard? ” he asked. “This is hard news,” he warned. “Mahmoud Darwish died today. ” My mind cried. My heart ached with all of the unhealed Palestinian losses that are recalled with each new loss—losses Darwish made sure to record in his poetry. I belong there. I have many memories, Darwish wrote. Memories that he recorded in at least 30 books of poetry and prose, translated into at least 20 languages. more.. e-mail
Mahmoud Darwish: Palestinian ’poet of the resistance’ The Independent 8/11/2008 The poet Mahmoud Darwish was the voice of the Palestinian odyssey, whose stark writing reflected the desperation and alienation of the Palestinian people. He published more than 20 collections of poetry, which have been translated into many languages (although few of them into English), and was the Arab world’s best-selling poet. His poems are engraved in the hearts of millions of Palestinians and his words have been shouted by anti-occupation demonstrators in the streets of Ramallah, Damascus and Cairo. Many have been set to music, including "I yearn for my mother’s bread. " Mahmoud Darwish was born in 1941 in al Birweh, an Arab village in the Acre region which became part of the new state of Israel in 1948. His family fled to Lebanon, although they returned the following year. Darwish published his first poetry collection, Asafir bila ajniha ("Wingless Birds", 1960) while still a teenager and soon made a reputation as a "poet of the resistance". more.. e-mail
200 to be married in Khan Younis Mass wedding Ma’an News Agency 7/31/2008 Gaza - Ma’an - A mass wedding, that will see 200 brides and grooms married, will take place in Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening. The event is organised by the Islamic charity association. Ahmed Abu E’layan the Chairman of the Committee supervising the ceremony said, "were eager to carry out this wedding ceremony successfully, it is a great event in Khan Younis. " The celebration will be held at the city’s Tennis Club where scouts will play music for the festival after the prayer at the Grand Mosque in Khan Younis. The organizers called on all Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip to participate in this huge wedding which is the first of its kind in Khan Younis. more.. e-mail
Medical Aid for Palestine Concert in London Mary Rizzo, Palestine Think Tank 7/23/2008 Hear wonderful musicians, have a marvelous night out, and contribute to humanitarian projects that help Palestinian people to develop rehabilitation centres, health care facilities and places of aggregation for youth. MAP siteTUES JULY 29TH @ THE 606 CLUB 7. 30 pm London Call 0207 352 5953 to book a table for dinnerTickets £15 www. 606club. comJoin us for a gala night of eclectic music, gastronomic delights & surprise special guests! Proceeds will go to aid those suffering in Palestine & refugee camps in the region. MAP UK registered charity no: 1045315 Celloman Sensuous, funky flights of melody from an extraordinary cello virtuoso. Ivan Hussey has featured on countless hits & albums including the work of Mick Jagger, Maxi Priest & Incognito. Tonight he performs his stunning, solo set fusing middle-eastern sounds with classical melodies to hair-raising effect. more.. e-mail
Improvising to the sound of slamming door Dalila Mahdawi, Daily Star 7/24/2008 BEIRUT: Jazz may not be the first genre that comes to mind when eavesdropping on Beirut’s music scene. An evening stuck in traffic adjacent the city’s multitude of night spots suggests the standard fare ranges from traditional Middle Eastern melodies - from divas like Fairuz and Umm Kulthoum to pop tarts like Haifa Wehbe - to the Western pop, rap and electronica preferred by some younger folk. That said, if you’ve strolled through popular quarters like Hamra or Gemayzeh over the last few months, you may have heard the sound of upbeat, sonorous jazz rhythms percolating from venues like the Zawaya and Blue Note cafes or BarLouie. If so, Beirut Be Bop! may be to blame. The most-recent addition to the city’s venerable tradition of hybrid jazz ensembles, this laidback group has been a mutable musical feast since it first saw the light of day last September. more.. e-mail
Palestine Youth Orchestra rehearses for regional tour focusing on Jerusalem Palestine News Network 7/20/2008 Ramallah / PNN - The Palestine Youth Orchestra of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music is in the midst of their training in preparation for a round of musical performances in Palestine, Jordan and Syria. The training is taking place at Ramallah’s Birzeit University in a type of summer camp between 17 and 26 July. For the tour and local performances they will accompany an orchestra from the University of Bonn in Germany. Eighty young musicians are rehearsing a program that will tour regionally under the title, "Jerusalem is the Song. "The Palestine Youth Orchestra has already played three times in Amman, Jordan, culminating in last year’s performance in Bonn. This year will be different because the focus is on Jerusalem. The Director of the Bonn project said, "My mission in Palestine has a different target. more.. e-mail
Al Muharraqi painting exhibition in Abu Dhabi Middle East Online 7/16/2008 ABU DHABI - The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation in association with Meem Gallery, Ghaf Art Gallery and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage, proudly present an exhibition of the works of Abdulla Al Muharraqi, featuring a journey with the artist. Abdulla Al Muharraqi is recognized as being the founding father of Modern Arab Art in The Gulf. Born in Bahrain, his work is held in the highest esteem by the leading collectors throughout the GCC. The artist specializes in depicting local Gulf scenes and traditions, mingling realism with warmth. Muharraqi shares Bahrain and the Gulf with the world through his paintings. Over the years, he has painted more than one thousand oils, seventy of which he keeps as part of his private collection. His works, whether in romantic realism or simple cubism, reflect a style that’s instantly recognizable by art connoisseurs. more.. e-mail
Living alongside the enemy Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem, The Guardian 7/10/2008 Coexistence projects bring Jews and Arabs together within Israel, but it is much harder to bridge the larger gap between Israel and the Palestinian territories - In the circles of Middle East peacemaking it is called "coexistence", the often difficult and usually pioneering work that brings together Jews and Arabs, treats them as equals and tries to bridge their differences. Within Israel it still happens a lot, despite the terrible violence of the second intifada and the flagging political peace process. There are organisations that run bilingual Jewish-Arabic schools, including one in Jerusalem. There are joint business projects, musical ventures and even comedy shows. In Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, the small Yaffa cafe and bookshop became the first store in the mixed Jewish and Arab city to sell Arabic books since 1948. more.. e-mail
The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah hosts prestigious Marcel Khalife contest this week Ma’an News Agency 7/5/2008 Ramallah – Ma’an – The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah is hosting the Marcel Khalife Music Competition this year. 2008 marks the first time in the competition’s history that Arabic song will be included as a category. The song competitions will be held on Sunday 6 July. Other divisions include Arabic instrumental music, piano, winds, strings and guitar. Besides the instrumental and vocal divisions, musicians are divided up in to four groups for age and ability, with participants from ages 6 to 30. Each division has a cash prize of between 100 and 1,000 USD. According to Buthayna Hamdan, media coordinator of the Conservatory, the singing competition could open new horizons for the local music scene, since there are many excellent singers who have not had the chance to be recognized. more.. e-mail
Soothing the Savage Breast Sanford F. Kuvin, MIFTAH 7/5/2008 Can music be an instrument for peace? That’s what the Sounding Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival hopes for, as it offers some of the season’s best free live classical music in the city. The festival brings together 75 top European, Israeli and Arab musicians for over 20 concerts to mixed audiences in a wide variety of venues – churches in the Old City, historic sites in West Jerusalem and Palestinian villages. In spite of the obvious difficulties entailed in having concerts on both sides of the Green Line, the festival, which runs through 5 July, offers a decent intercultural opportunity for Jews, Christians and Arabs to share the borderless atmosphere of music at its best. The individual behind this initiative is the Austrian cellist Erich Oskar Huetter. With funding from the European Union, this extraordinarily talented musician has embarked on a seemingly mission-impossible task of bringing more.. e-mail
Soothing the savage breast Sanford F. Kuvin, Ha’aretz 6/26/2008 Can music be an instrument for peace? That’s what the Sounding Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival hopes for, as it offers some of the season’s best free live classical music in the city. The festival brings together 75 top European, Israeli and Arab musicians for over 20 concerts to mixed audiences in a wide variety of venues - churches in the Old City, historic sites in West Jerusalem and Palestinian villages. In spite of the obvious difficulties entailed in having concerts on both sides of the Green Line, the festival, which runs through July 5, offers a decent intercultural opportunity for Jews, Christians and Arabs to share the borderless atmosphere of music at its best. The individual behind this initiative is the Austrian cellist Erich Oskar Huetter. With funding from the European Union, this extraordinarily talented musician has embarked on a seemingly mission-impossible. . . more.. e-mail
Jazz is my Jihad Haitham Sabbah, Palestine Think Tank 6/20/2008 Jazz musician Gilad Atzmon reflects upon his roots and his inspiration and how his activities as a supporter of the Palestinian cause and his art influence one another. His music can be seen as an integral part of his political message. It’s not sloganeering or repeating formulas, but it can be seen as a weaving and unweaving of threads, digging into the reservoir of personal and collective dreams, hopes and fears. This British documentary, "Jazz is my Jihad" presents a viewpoint into the artistic and personal journey undertaken by Gilad Atzmon. [end]
American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 6/13/2008 The demand for foreign stars to perform in Israeli venues is rising, and this demand is being met by local entertainment producers and accompanied by high ticket prices. A wave of American artists is meant to arrive in Israel this summer and upcoming fall to perform before a music-thirsty Israeli audience. According to his official website, world renowned rapper Snoop Dogg is due to perform in Israel on September 18th. Snoop Dogg joins an impressive list of foreign stars that have either visited Israel over the past year or are scheduled to arrive in the coming months. R eports have indicated that the American rapper signed a contract with an Israeli agent who lives abroad, but still tried to extract higher offers from local entertainment producers in Israel. The Ramat Gan stadium where Snoop Dogg is expected to perform declined comment. more.. e-mail
Thousands attend 10th annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 6/7/2008 Gay Pride paradeThousands of people attended the tenth annual Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv Friday, to celebrate the gay community’s struggle for equality and to christen the center for the gay community situated in the city’s Meir park (Gan Meir). "The center symbolizes an amazing turning point in the history of the gay community, and our activities will now have fertile ground from which to grow and flourish," Army Radio quoted one of the parade participants as saying. The Tel Aviv municipality donated NIS 250,000 for the event, which was scheduled to commence at 12 P. M. at Gan Meir. The parade was then to head out toward Bograshov Street, turning onto Ben Yehuda Steet, then Ben Gurion Boulevard and finally ending at Gordon beach, where a host of musicians such as Ivri Lider, Maya Buskila and Keren Peles were set to perform followed by a party on into the night. more.. e-mail
World Council of Churches to create living clock: 60 minutes for 60 years of Al Nakba Palestine News Network 6/6/2008 Bethlehem / PNN - Beginning at 6:30 pm on Sunday, the World Council of Churches will host what it refers to as a "Living Clock." A circle will be created in Manager Square between the Church of Nativity and the Bethlehem Mosque marking 60 years of Al Nakba. At least that many people will be in attendance, creating 60 minutes for 60 years. The World Council of Churches program follows:The arrival and setup: 18:301. Loudspeaker: music It’s Time for Palestine 2. People carrying numbers 1-60 form a circle, with the numbers 41 and 60 colored in red. To form the circle they initially hold each other’s hand. The central point of the clock is indicated on the ground with chalk. We will care that different ages are represented in the circle. 3. 20-23 more people will form a hand, carrying the letters It’s Time for Palestine. more.. e-mail
Rolling with the Na Nachs, the most high-spirited and newest Hasidic sect Adam Molner, Ha’aretz 5/25/2008 There is no escaping them. They have left their mark everywhere in Israel, in the form of a cryptic mantra painted in bold Hebrew lettering on security fences, sleek skyscrapers, graveyard walls, freeway billboards and sheer mountain cliffs. Dressed in characteristic woven white skullcaps, adherents perform leaping dances on street corners in the secular bastion of Tel Aviv, to techno-Hassidic music blasting from vans bearing the slogan "Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me’uman," which has informally lent its name to the newest of Hasidic sects. The Na Nachs, as some of the group call themselves, are an offshoot of the Bratslav Hassidim, followers of the late Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810), great-grandson of the founder of Hasidism. But what separates Na Nachs from other Bratslavers is their belief that a mysterious letter found in 1962 by Rabbi Israel. . . more.. e-mail
Bethlehem University student elections: Fateh clear winner before polls even opened Palestine News Network 4/16/2008 Kristen Ess - The polls finally closed as of late Wednesday afternoon in the most obnoxious student elections to date at Bethlehem University. Fateh won 18 seats and gunshots were fired as students cheered and music blasted in the streets. Days upon days of students chanting, "Shabiba, Shabiba, Shabiba!" the Fateh Youth Party, in the streets and on campus, have left the university district with a collective headache. They are taking full advantage of the larger current political strife. Students are walking through neighbor’s gardens, sporting their party gear. Since early this morning the University has blasted disco music. They are still shouting, "Shabiba!" Palestinian Authority security has the streets cordoned off. The Hamas party boycotted the entire affair. Certainly they knew they had no chance at winning, considering the international campaign against the party at large. more.. e-mail
ADACH presents live tribute to Arabic music Middle East Online 4/16/2008 ABU DHABI - The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) organizes for the first time ever in the Emirati capital, a festival of Arabic music which will be held May 1-6, 2008 at the Cultural Foundation. The ADACH has chosen 2008 as the first year of a modest beginning, which aims to offer an eclectic mix of sounds and styles from a uniquely complex musical heritage. The ADACH aims to make the festival an annual event, to expand and ensure the artistic calendar of every music lover in the Arab World includes Abu Dhabi every May. The first evening belongs to Omar Khairat, the second to the Al Fayha Choir, the third to Furat Qaddouri and Tariq & Julia Banzi, the fourth to Jahida Wehbe, the fifth to Rida Popular Arts Group and Nadia Mustafa and the final evening to Farida. Encompassing a history of more than two thousand years, the music of the Arabs is unique among the world’s various musical cultures. more.. e-mail
Ramallah hair show defies occupation Kristen Ess, Palestine News Network 4/9/2008 The beat goes on in a Ramallah hair show, but without Gaza. The stage is filled with young women having their hair cut by what many consider to be artists. The announcer is shouting to be heard over the pounding disco music, "This is Palestine!" The stylist on display is from Nablus. There are people at this hair show, invite only, from inside the 1948, Israeli, boundaries, from Syria’s occupied Golan Heights even. But the Gazans did not come. They were not allowed. It’s a hair show, a fashion show; it’s something to ensure that more people who care about hair cuts, and a certain semblance of normalcy, might have work as the economy continues to plummet due to Israeli occupation measures. The director of the entire program takes a minute from his front row seat to speak about what is the point of this event. more.. e-mail
Marcel Khalifa and Edward Said Conservatory support Palestinian music scene Palestine News Network 3/21/2008 PNN -- The Marcel Khalifa annual competition is accepting applications for July 2008. Although many Palestinians cannot attend the competition due to Israeli-imposed travel restrictions, musicians are finding their way around it. "We will use a closed circuit television system for the musicians who are not allowed to enter Jerusalem: those from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as musicians from the Golan Heights," representatives of the Edward Said Conservatory of Music announced on Friday. The Conservatory was established in 1993 and has centers in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah with some 550 students. They study classical, eastern and western styles of music. This year’s competition will include several categories in this prestigious event, including Eastern, Piano, Strings and Guitar. New to the categories this year is Arabic Singing. more.. e-mail
Striking an ancient chord Hagai Hitron, Ha’aretz 2/14/2008 Sounds, archaeological finds and scientific hypotheses all play major roles in an exhibition entitled "Sounds of Ancient Music," which opened last week at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. Focusing on musical developments in ancient Sumeria, Babylon, Assyria and other cultures of the Ancient Near East, through the periods of the Kingdom of Judea, Greece and the Roman Empire, the exhibition features 137 objects - among them, rare musical instruments that have been preserved from antiquity, as well as full-sized replicas of instruments from those early eras. Among other items on display are a flute, fragments of which were discovered in a burial cave in the French Hill neighborhood of Jerusalem and dating back to the Second Temple period, as well as the well-known stone from that same period bearing the inscription, "To the House of Trumpeting to the k. more..
Israeli universities cease researching Palestinian musicology Tamara Traubmann, Ha’aretz 1/24/2008 Professors emeritae Dalia Cohen and Ruth Katz began studying Palestinian music in the 1960s. While Israel’s Arab population was still under military rule, they traveled to the villages of the Galilee and the Triangle and recorded performances of traditional music. The music was passed down in an oral tradition and was rarely written down. In their laboratory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the musicologists developed the Jerusalem, or Cohen-Katz, Melograph. This mechanical musical transcription device created a graph that provided precise information about the pitch, duration and volume of sounds. "Notation is a Western system of writing that refers to Western musical materials," Cohen explains. "Most non-Western cultures do not have a notation system, and we don’t know exactly what the raw materials of the music are." more..
With medieval manuscripts forgotten, musicology goes into in drug rehab Tamara Traubmann, Ha’aretz 1/24/2008 Professors emeritae Dalia Cohen and Ruth Katz began studying Palestinian music in the 1960s. While Israel’s Arab population was still under military rule, they traveled to the villages of the Galilee and the Triangle and recorded performances of traditional music. The music was passed down in an oral tradition and was rarely written down. In their laboratory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the musicologists developed the Jerusalem, or Cohen-Katz, Melograph. This mechanical musical transcription device created a graph that provided precise information about the pitch, duration and volume of sounds." Notation is a Western system of writing that refers to Western musical materials," Cohen explains. "Most non-Western cultures do not have a notation system, and we don’t know exactly what the raw materials of the music are." more..
Palestinian hip-hop doc premieres at Sundance Agence France Presse - AFP, Daily Star 1/22/2008 PARK CITY, Utah: The Palestinian hip-hop group DAM, which has spawned a cult following and a small army of imitators, stars in a new film about the underground music scene in the Middle East, which premiered on Friday at the Sundance Film Festival. "Slingshot Hip Hop," by director Jackie Salloum, offers a peek into contemporary life in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, as well as the Middle East hip-hop culture inspired by the political positions of American rappers such as Chuck D, Tupac Shakur and Eminem. Rapper Mahmoud Shalabi, from the village of Akka, is featured in the documentary, as is female hip-hop duo Arapeyat. The movie also highlights the work of the group Palestinian Rapperz (PR) among others. In the film, Palestinian rap groups offer an alternative form of resistance against the Israeli occupation. Some critics suggest that the new music simply reinforces longstanding cultural differences. more..
Local music man picks up where war cut him off Kaelen Wilson-Goldie, Daily Star 1/11/2008 Interview BEIRUT: The Lebanese capital is littered with the remains of young companies and upstart arts initiatives that broke up and fell apart during the war with Israel 18 months ago. One of the more obvious among them is the Beirut edition of Time Out, the monthly arts and entertainment magazine that published its first issue in April 2006 and its last in July 2006. The young magazine ceased publication when the bombardment and siege began and never resumed. Another casualty, less commonly commented upon but similar in that funders fleeing the country precipitated its closure, is the local music label Mooz Records, which was the hottest thing happening in Beirut two years ago and is now no more - though the spirit behind it might just be revived next week with the debut of a monthly music festival dubbed Beirut Is A-Live. more..
Jumping into cold water Tamar Sukenik, Ha’aretz 1/3/2008 Last week the character played by Mira Awad appeared for the first time on Sayed Kashua’s "Arab Labor" TV series on Channel 2. But the attention of the 32-year-old actress is already focused elsewhere. In guitarist Amos Hadani’s small studio in downtown Tel Aviv she is completing the recording of her debut album, which will comprise songs whose lyrics and music she has written herself, mostly in Arabic. The long road she has traveled until arriving at the final stages of the album began during her days as a student at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Ramat Hasharon. "Eight years ago I already had demos ready and I tried to interest several people in them. But it didn’t really work out, and at a certain stage I got tired of trying and abandoned music for a number of years," she recalls. more..
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To receive
a once-daily (M-F) e-mail digest of our News and Articles content, write to Disclaimer: The views expressed in the material posted on this site are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the webmaster or Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel. FAIR USE NOTICE: This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![Daniel Barenboim [right] frequently uses his music to challenge fellow Israelis - BBC, AP photo](../images/164_39356415_baren203body.jpg)
